Safer Internet Programme Launched in Armenia
Safer Internet Month was launched on February 9 at the Yerevan Secondary and High School named after Chekhov. The initiative is timed to Safer Internet Day 2010, celebrated in more than 60 countries worldwide, including 27 countries of the European Union. Safer Internet Day 2010 focuses on the theme “Think B4 U Post.”
Within the framework of Safer Internet Month, the Media Education Center, in partnership with Microsoft Armenia, World Vision, and the Internet Society of Armenia, will organize a series of seminars in Armenian secondary schools, as well as public discussions at higher educational institutions. The Safer Internet–Armenia programme is currently under development and is aimed at raising public awareness about the safe and responsible use of the Internet, as well as combating illegal and obscene content on the World Wide Web.
According to the coordinator of the Safer Internet initiative in Armenia, Narine Khachatryan, the global communication network opens unprecedented opportunities for learning and research. At the same time, online activities are accompanied by a number of risks, such as cyberbullying, phishing, pharming, Internet fraud, and identity theft. The Internet poses numerous threats, especially to children and young people. Internet addiction, aggressive behaviour, social isolation, and poor academic performance may be consequences of excessive and uncontrolled Internet use by children.
“The rules of conduct in virtual networks are similar to norms of behaviour in real life,” said Microsoft Armenia Country Director Grigor Barseghyan. “These standards should be followed in order to use Internet resources effectively and positively.” Microsoft Armenia has also developed a new manual entitled “Computer Security and Personal Data Protection.”
According to the Director of the Media Education Center, Haykaz Baghyan, the Safer Internet Armenia website has already been developed. The website contains links to and a collection of teaching and learning resources devoted to e-safety and social networking. It includes sections on blogs, chat rooms, social networks, file sharing, and filtering, as well as practical advice for parents, children, teenagers, and teachers on safer and more responsible online behaviour.
The Media Education Center has examined more than 10,000 educational websites and compiled a directory of 3,000 safe links to educational resources. Currently, efforts are underway to involve educational institutions more broadly, as well as the Armenian business community and local municipal authorities, and to further raise public awareness.
Within the framework of the Safer Internet Programme, drawing and poster competitions for children aged 5–8 and quizzes for children aged 9–15 will be held, focusing on this year’s theme, “Think B4 U Post.” The competitions and quizzes will conclude on April 9.
Safer Internet Month is timed to World Safer Internet Day, which has been celebrated on the first Tuesday of February since 2004 by INSAFE, with the support of the European Commission. Expanding year by year, this initiative brings together stakeholders to combat illegal, harmful, and obscene online content. Since 2004, the European INSAFE network has advocated for the safe and responsible use of the Internet and mobile technologies, empowering users to benefit from their positive potential while avoiding associated risks.
